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View Poll Results: What do you use for tax preparation?
TurboTax 87 60.42%
HR Block 21 14.58%
TaxAct 20 13.89%
Liberty Tax 0 0%
Tax Slayer 1 0.69%
Jackson Hewitt 0 0%
Professional Tax Preparer 5 3.47%
Don't do no stinking taxes 0 0%
pink pearl and number 2 2 1.39%
other - specify 8 5.56%
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Poll:2016 tax software ... or not
Old 11-13-2016, 09:24 AM   #1
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Poll:2016 tax software ... or not

Looks like tax software prices are jumping again or adding added fees compared to previous years. This is at least true for me. I have used several different packages over the years, but always a downloaded version. I just like to have the data on my computer and the ability to play with it to help me understand the sensitivities to different changes.
I'm curious what others are using. Have prices jumped to where you would go back to manual returns? Why do you choose one over another package? Other thoughts?
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Old 11-13-2016, 09:44 AM   #2
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I will use either TurboTax or HRBlock ... whichever one I can get for free after rebates.

I have used both of these in the past, so I have no brand loyalty. They both work for me with 1040, Schedules A, B, C, SE, D, Roth conversions, Roth recharacterizations, education credits, foreign tax credit, etc.
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Old 11-13-2016, 09:46 AM   #3
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I've been getting TT "free" from T. Rowe Price over the years so I will most likely continue to use it.
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Old 11-13-2016, 10:15 AM   #4
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I've used TaxAct for the past few years.

Had a problem last year though with the Obamacare part of the return and the software got caught in a loop. Had to send my return to them so they could debug the problem.

I was uncomfortable with the experience at the time and figured I'd move on this year.... As a software guy myself I'm reconsidering that position in light of the fact of the whole Big Brother straight jacket mess. I wouldn't want to try and write software to handle it.

So TaxAct handled everything else just fine and will be considered in my assessment of what to use.

When will be able to file taxes on a 3x5 postcard?
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Old 11-13-2016, 10:21 AM   #5
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A TurboTax CD.....I get one free every year.
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Old 11-13-2016, 10:56 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bingybear View Post
Looks like tax software prices are jumping again or adding added fees compared to previous years.
Where do you see it? TurboTax 2016 Deluxe is listed at $60 right now on Amazon. According to this history data chart, TurboTax 2015 Deluxe was about this price at this time a year ago.

TurboTax Deluxe 2015 Federal + State Taxes + Fed Efile Tax Preparation Software - PC/Mac*Disc (B01617VPUY) | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

Then it went down to between $35 and $45 from January to April.
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:02 AM   #7
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I use H&R block and will buy it whenever it drops in price to $25 or less for the Premium version.

I decided years ago to not use "cracked" versions, as I cannot really trust the hackers to keep the code clean and resist the temptation to add in a virus/keylogger.

Anyone know of other investment firms that hand out free ones ?
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:08 AM   #8
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CPA.... A couple dozen rentals, inherited IRA's, income with respect to a decedent, the list of potential problems is endless.
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:10 AM   #9
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If your AGI is low enough and other criteria you might be able to use one of the free filing options here:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/wizard.jsp
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:19 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SecondCor521 View Post
If your AGI is low enough and other criteria you might be able to use one of the free filing options here:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/wizard.jsp
Worth a shot if you think you are near or below the limit of $62,000 AGI.
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:23 AM   #11
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I pay full price for TurboTax premier (CD version) every year and always will. Just love it. I can adjust all my numbers to plan for next year, I don't have to know tax law, just fill in the info and watch the dancing numbers.
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:25 AM   #12
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Quote:
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....I decided years ago to not use "cracked" versions, as I cannot really trust the hackers to keep the code clean and resist the temptation to add in a virus/keylogger. ...
I bought a cracked version of TT last year... not intentionally but i had a sense that something was not right. I didn't have any trouble and no intrusions but I was uncomfortable enough that I'll spend the little extra $$ to get the offical version.
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Old 11-13-2016, 11:39 AM   #13
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I pay full price for TurboTax premier (CD version) every year and always will. Just love it. I can adjust all my numbers to plan for next year, I don't have to know tax law, just fill in the info and watch the dancing numbers.
I don't pay full price - but it always goes on sale, and that's when I buy it. Costco has a sale every year, as does Amazon.

From what I can tell TT 2016 isn't even out yet - so I don't know where people are getting pricing.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:03 PM   #14
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Fidelity has been giving me a free TT Premier, so I'll wait for that. If they don't, I'll probably buy it at Costco when it goes on sale.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:06 PM   #15
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TT Deluxe. Paying now since no more freebie from Vanguard. I'll wait towards the end of the year and buy from Amazon.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:06 PM   #16
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I generally use TT but watch for it on sale. It's a once-a-year purchase so I don't worry about it much if I miss the sale.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:09 PM   #17
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H&R block is doing pre-selling, I received an email from them knocking $25 off the Premium price of $75. Which I feel is still too pricey.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:41 PM   #18
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Current lock in price for TaxAct is $18 for TaxAct Plus (includes itemized). I was upgraded to Premium for 2015, but it's overkill if you are not self-employed. Plus version covered all the schedules needed for itemized deductions.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:44 PM   #19
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Used H&R Block deluxe the last couple of returns. Will probably do the same this year. Never have been the recipient of a free copy.
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Old 11-13-2016, 12:58 PM   #20
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are there any tax programs that work with linux? I recently had a fed up fit with windows and changed to ubuntu
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